The Serene Bank of the Xiang River

Bamboo painting has always held a special place in the art of the Chinese literati. The plant is regarded as representing the Confucian symbols of resilience and integrity, and the brushwork that creates its image is also closest to that of calligraphy. Each leaf and nodule is often represented by a single brushstroke, which can expose any weakness or hesitation in the artist's technique. Not surprisingly, most bamboo paintings were done only in ink. Although this scene features a rocky shore in the background, the overhanging bamboo-each leaf and stem rendered in a speedy single stroke-would have served as the model for later printed manuals.